harkenrider



Apnl 16, 1957 R.--'J. HARKENRIDER 24,301

LUBRICATORS FDR DIESEL LOCOIOTIVE TRACTION MOTOR SUSPENSION BEARINGS Original Filed June 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Mmza may 42 WNW April 1957 R. J. HARKENRIDER Re. 24,301

RACTION LUBRICATORS FOR DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE T MOTOR SUSPENSION BEARINGS Original Filed June 23, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'TOR.

' April 16, 1957 R J. HARKENRIDER Re, 24,301

LUBRIGATORS FOR DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE TRACTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MOTOR SUSPENSION BEARINGS Original Filed June 23, 1951 LIQUID BARRIER 3%wIcK LIFT LOW OIL LEVEL IN VEN TOR.

United StatcSPatent Ofiice Re. 24.301 Reissued Apr. 16, 1957 LUBRICATORS FOR DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE TRAC- TION MOTOR SUSPENSION BEARINGS Robert I. Harkenrider, Winona, Minn., assignor to Gladys D. Miller, Winona, Minn.

Original No. 2,695,822, dated November 30, 1954, Serial No. 233,208, June 23, 1951. Application for reissue July 3, 1956, Serial No. 595,807

Claims. (Cl. 308-132) The principal object of this invention is to provide better application of oil to the journal as the oil level in the reservoir drops.

Generally speaking, this is accomplished by providing two felt bodies contacting the journal successively as it revolves, one supplied with oil by a wick and the other by a journal.

Further. objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section through a motor suspension bearing and the axle to which it is applied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an applicator embodying the invention and composed of two felt bodies arranged to contact the journal successively as it revolves;

Figs. 3 and 4 are similarviews of slight modifications;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a felt holder;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the felt bodies;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another felt body, the two to be assembled in a suitable holder such as shown in Figs. 2 and 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one form of separator between the felt bodies;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another form of separator between the felt bodies; I

Fig. 10 is a diagram of a prior felt applicator;

Fig. 11 is a similar view offelt bodies embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a composite felt body made up of a'group of narrow bodies.

' But these diagrammatic drawings and the corresponding description are used for the purpose of disclosure only.

*In Fig. l, the reference numeral 10 indicates a farniliarform, of motor suspension bearing provided with a liner. or shell 11 forming the actual bearing for the wheeled axle 12. Associated with these is a motor suspension bearing cap or axle cap 13 secured to the motor suspension bearing by bolts 14 and provided with an oil reservoir 15.

The means forming the subject matter of this invention is to lift the oil from the reservoir 15 and apply it to the axle 12 through the window opening 16 in the shell or liner 11. That function is performed by a felt body or felt bodies generally indicated by 17 assembled in a holder or holders 18 pivoted to levers 19 and urged toward the axle by springs 20, all substantially as disclosed in my application Ser. No. 109,563, August 10, 1949, now Patent No. 2,640,742, granted June 2, 1953, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in the interest of brevity.

According to this invention, the applicator for oil is composed of a felt body 21 having a thickened portion provided with an arcuate surface 22 for contact with the axle to be lubricated, and a depending wick portion 23 to raise oil from the reservoir to the thickened portion and the curved surface 22.

In addition, there is a second separate felt body 24 having an arcuate surface 25 for contact with the journal to be lubricated circumferentially apart from the first arcuate surface.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the two felt bodies are assembled in a holder 26 having flanges 27 grasping the sides of the felt bodies to confine them laterally, but allowing the thickened portions to project a suitable distance beyond the flanges.

The felt bodies may be separated by a partition 28,- shown separately in Fig. 8, made of metal, wood fiber, synthetic rubber such as neoprene, buna, Hycar, etc. (Materials Handbook, Brady, McGraw-Hill, 1944, p.523.) r,

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 9, there is a sepaseparator 29 of different shape of one of the materials mentioned.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the felt bodies are separated by a narrow space 30.

- in the body 24, and once it becomes saturated, will re-.

main in that condition. Obviously, the body 24 can be made of any suitable oil-absorbent and oil-retaining material, of which felt is but an example.

Referring to Fig. 10, which indicates prior construction with the axle rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, the excess of oil applied by the thickened portion 31 follows the arrows 32, and there is a .sort of pumping action that will overcharge the upper portion 33 of the felt body during operation, particularly fast operation. When a locomotive stops, however, that overcharge will drain down, as indicated by the arrows 34, and the upper portion 33 becomes the dry portion of the felt body.

In contrast with that, present invention is indicated in Fig. 11.

The excess from 21 is wiped oflthe journal by oil from the body 24, thus causing oil to collect in this.

body until it is completely saturated. The flanges 27. and base portion or back of the holder 26 cooperate with the liquid barrier between the bodies 21 and 24 lo'provide a container forming an auxiliary oil reservoir with which the body 24 is associated. This auxiliary reservoir is invaluable in supplying oil to the journal when rotation of the journal is commenced after relatively long periods of inaction. Obviously, with the oil continuously available in the auxiliary reservoir, there is only a short capillary lift required for the immediate application of oil to the bearing upon starting, and this capillary lift is substantially less than that required for lifting oil from the main reservoir to the journal through the body 21.

When the locomotive stops, 24 will retain its charge, practical saturation of lubricant, which will be ready to lubricate the journal as soon as the locomotive starts. After oil is initially applied to the journal by surface 25 of body 24, upon starting, further oil is lifted from the lower portion of body 24 to its surface 25 by capillary action. This enables body 24 to apply an adequate film of oil to the journal until the rotating action of the fouran applicator embodying the rial draws sufficient oil to the journal through body 21. gfntinued rotation of the journal will recharge the body n clockwise operation, sufficient oil is carried through the bearing liner and back to the top section 24 to keep it charged.

It has been found in practice that, at low oil level, the arrangement shown in Fig. 11 feeds approximately twice as much oil to a journal as that shown in Fig. 10. The sketches, Figs. IO-and 11, are on the basis of 3%" lift from low oil level line.

It is commercially diflicult to make a felt pad having s'uflicient area corresponding to the curved surface exposed in the window opening with the fibers substantially endwise to fit evenly against the axle journal and feed evenly to the surface of the journal. in use. For that reason, the applicator is made up of a group of felts, such as indicated in Fig. 12. They may have individual holders or may be in the same holder as disclosed in the above mentioned application, Ser. No. 109,563, Au-- gust 10, 1949.

I. claim:

1. In a lubricator having an oil reservoir, a felt body having a thickened portion provided with an arcuate surface for contact with a journal to be lubricated, a holder mounting the felt body having lateral flanges of less height than the said thickened portion to embrace the sides thereof and give it lateral support, said felt body having a portion forming a wick depending into the reservoir to raise oil to the thickened portion, and an auxiliary reservoir for supplying oil to the journal including a container therefor comprising a separate felt body having an arcuate surface for contact with said journal separated circumferentially from the first arcuate surface and mounted in said holder, having its sides embraced by the flanges thereof, and being disposed out of contact with the first mentioned reservoir, said flanges comprising a portion of said container.

2. In a lubricator' having an oil reservoir, a felt body having a thickened portion provided with an arcuate surface for contact with a journal to be lubricated, a holder for the felt body having lateral flanges of less height than the said thickened portion to embrace the sides thereof and give it lateral support, said felt body having a portion forming a wick depending into the reservoir to raise oil to the thickened portion, and an auxiliary reservoir for supplying oil to the journal including a container therefor comprising a separate felt body similarly embraced by the holder and having an arcuate surface for contact with said journal circumferentially above the first arcuate surface and being disposed out of contact with the first mentioned reservoir, sa'id flanges comprising a portion of said container.

3. In a lubricator having an oil reservoir, a felt body having a thickened portion provided with an arcuate surface for contact with a journal to be lubricated, a holder for the felt body having lateral flanges of less height than the said thickened portion to embrace the sides thereof and give it lateral support, said felt body having a portion forming a wick depending into the reservoir to raise oil to the thickened portion, and an auxiliary reservoir for supplying oil to the journal including a container therefor comprising a separate felt body joined to the first within the holder and having an arcuate surface for contact with said journal circumferentially above the first arcuate surface and being disposed out of contact with the first mentioned reservoir, said flanges comprising a portion of said container 4. In a lubricator having an oil reservoir, a felt body having a thickened portion provided with an arcuate surface for contact with a journal to be lubricated, a holder for the felt body having lateral flanges of less height than the said thickened portion to embrace the sides thereof and give it lateral support, said felt body having a portion forming a wick depending into the reservoir to raise oil to the thickened portion, and an auxiliary reservoir for supplying oil to the journal including a container therefor comprising a second felt body carried by the holder out of direct communication with the first mentioned reservoir and with the" first felt body and having an arcuate surface for contact with said journal circumferentially above said first arcuate [portion] surface, said holder forming a portion of said container. v

5. In a Iubricator having an oil reservoir, a felt body having a thickened portion provided with an arcuate surface for contact with a journal to be lubricated, a holder for the felt body having lateral flanges of less height than the said thickened portion to embrace the sides thereof and give it lateral support, said felt body having a portion forming a wick depending into the reservoir to raise oil to the thickened portion, and an auxiliary reservoir for'supplying oil to the journal including a container therefor comprising a second felt body [made fast to] separated from the first by means inhibiting direct transfer of oil from one to the other, said second felt body having an arcuate surface for contact with said journal circumferentially above the first arcuate surface and out of contact with the first mentioned reservoir, said means forming a portion of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 49,591 Millen Aug. 22, 1865 161,922 Austin Apr. 13, 1875 215,508 Covel May 20, 1879 348,729 Farr e Sept. 7, 1886 370,811 Nichol Oct. 4, 1887 598,961 Skilton Feb. 15, 1898 1,683,616 Hennessy Sept. 11, 1928 1,744,390 Kretchmar Jan. 21-, 1930 2,001,182 Cardw'ell May 14, 1935' 2,540,829 Miller Feb. 6.. 1951 

